Syllabus – 202110.12095 GEOL-134-001 (Spring 2021) 1/13/21, 12:01 PM 202110.12095 GEOL-134-001 (Spring 2021) Syllabus Edit Mode is: • ON Syllabus Build Content Assessments Tools Partner Content Instructor Information Enabled: Statistics Tracking Instructor Contact Information: Dr. Mark D. Uhen; Office location, 3414 Exploratory Hall; Office Hours, 10:30-11:30 Mondays or by appointment; email: [email protected]; phone; 703-993-5264. Office Hours will be held via Zoom: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/6898465135? pwd=Y2FRWWY0WStGbzVZOUlEVDlQRExlZz09 Location and Time : Exploratory Hall 1309, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:30-10:20 am. History of Life Enabled: Statistics Tracking Title History of Life Author Richard Cohen ISBN 9781119482215 Publisher Wiley Binding Available new, used, or digital Type Print Price $38.75 Required https://mymasonportal.gmu.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContentEditable.jsp?content_id=_11963713_1&course_id=_413001_1&mode=reset Page 1 of 12 Syllabus – 202110.12095 GEOL-134-001 (Spring 2021) 1/13/21, 12:01 PM GEOL 134: Evolution & Extinction Enabled: Statistics Tracking GEOL 134: Evolution & Extinction STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES Students are expected to have read the syllabus and be familiar with expectations, due dates for assignments, and dates and times for quizzes and exams. The syllabus will be posted on the Blackboard system and students are expected to pay attention to any changes that are made over the course of the semester. Group study and note taking : Students in the class will be divided into 4 groups. One group will be responsible for posting notes from lecture to the class Lecture Notes Blackboard wiki before the next class period. All members of each group will be expected to contribute. Students are also encouraged to use their group to study for quizzes and exams. Additional assignments may also involve group activity. Communication: Students are expected to check their Mason email and the Blackboard system regularly for information about the course. Students are expected to have read the syllabus and be familiar with expectations, due dates for assignments, and dates and times for quizzes and exams. The syllabus, including the schedule is posted on Blackboard and students are expected to pay attention to any changes that are made over the course of the semester. Failure to be aware of information posted to a student's Mason email account or on Blackboard is not a valid excuse for missing assignments, assignment instructions, tests, presentations or student responsibilities of any kind. This course operates under the rules of the George Mason University Honor System and Code. Please be familiar with the code. Quizzes and exams are closed book and your answers must be your own. Students are expected to respectful of the instructor and each other during class. Demonstrate that respect by please, not talking out of turn during class, turning off your cell phone and instant messaging during class, and trying not to disturb class if you enter late or leave early. If you are a student with a disability and you think that you need academic accommodations, contact the Office of Disability Services at 703-993-2472 or [email protected] immediately if you have not already done so. All academic https://mymasonportal.gmu.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContentEditable.jsp?content_id=_11963713_1&course_id=_413001_1&mode=reset Page 2 of 12 Syllabus – 202110.12095 GEOL-134-001 (Spring 2021) 1/13/21, 12:01 PM accommodations must be arranged through that office. You must then bring the accommodation recommendations to your instructor(s) immediately. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Critical Thinking: Develop your ability to comprehend and analyze scientific concepts, and to critically evaluate scientific ideas. Topical Comprehension: Give you a basic understanding of: this history of Earth, the history of life on Earth, and how geological processes interact with biological processes over the history of the earth. Scienti!c Communication: Develop your skills in communicating scientific ideas in a clear and concise manner that demonstrates comprehension of scientific topics. GRADING Graded items will be presented in the Recitation section over the course of the semester. These graded items will consist of: quizzes, written assignments, discussions, and the class project (Virtual Museum). Two regular exams will be given during the lecture period plus a final exam during the scheduled final exam period. The final exam is cumulative. Your grade will be calculated as follows: Participation: 10%, Virtual Museum: 15%, Quizzes + Assignments: 20% Exam 1 + Exam 2: 35%, Final Exam: 20%. Quizzes and assignments will be graded on a scale from 1-10. The lowest of your quizzes + assignments will be dropped from the grade calculation. If you miss a quiz or fail to hand in an assignment, you will receive a zero for that quiz or assignment. Assignments turned in late will be graded 10% lower for each day that they are late. Assignments turned in more than 1 week after the due date will receive a zero. Do not expect that a make-up exam will be given if you miss an exam. If classes (or just this class) are cancelled on the day of an exam, the exam will be given on the next scheduled class day when classes are in session. General grade scale: A: 90-100 pts; B: 80-89 pts; C: 70-79 pts; D: 60-79 pts; F: 0-59 points. Assignments must be turned in electronically via Blackboard. Written assignments must be submitted in either: plain text (.txt), Word (.doc or docx), or PDF (.pdf) formats. File names for each assignment should follow this format: Assignment X Lastname.doc. Where X is the assignment number and Lastname is your last name. Failure to use this format may result in not receiving a grade in a timely fashion. LESSONS https://mymasonportal.gmu.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContentEditable.jsp?content_id=_11963713_1&course_id=_413001_1&mode=reset Page 3 of 12 Syllabus – 202110.12095 GEOL-134-001 (Spring 2021) 1/13/21, 12:01 PM Introduction & Origin of the Earth Reading: Origin and Evolution of Earth, Question 1, pp. 7-18 Note Taking Group 1 Fossil of the Day: Mammuthus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoth https://www.paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=43266 http://www.earthtimes.org/scitech/yuka-ice-age-elephant-mammuthus-primigenius/1914/ January 25, 2021 09:30 AM - 10:20 AM Geologic Time Reading: Understanding Geologic Time Note Taking Group 3 Fossil of the Day: Triceratops https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=38862 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triceratops https://www.si.edu/object/triceratops-horridus-marsh-1889:nmnhpaleobiology_3383580 January 27, 2021 09:30 AM - 10:20 AM Origins and deep time Reading: Origin and Evolution of Earth, Question 2, pp. 18-27 Note Taking Group 2 Fossil of the Day: Pikaia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikaia https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=34105 https://burgess-shale.rom.on.ca/en/fossil-gallery/view-species.php?id=101&ref=i& January 29, 2021 09:30 AM - 10:20 AM Sediments & Sedimentary Rocks Reading: Sedimentary Rocks Note Taking Group 1 Extra Videos: Rock Cycle Sedimentary Rocks Earth's inner structure Plate Tectonics Fossil of the Day: Daimonelix (trace fossil from Palaeocastor) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palaeocastor https://www.paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=209187 https://www.paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=41553 https://mymasonportal.gmu.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContentEditable.jsp?content_id=_11963713_1&course_id=_413001_1&mode=reset Page 4 of 12 Syllabus – 202110.12095 GEOL-134-001 (Spring 2021) 1/13/21, 12:01 PM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdfFoSC8_7k February 1, 2021 09:30 AM - 10:20 AM Origin of Life & Precambrian Life Reading: Origin and Evolution of Earth, Question 3, pp. 27-34 Note Taking Group 3 Fossil of the Day: Titanoboa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanoboa https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=179038 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-titanoboa-the-40-foot-long-snake-was-found- 115791429/ February 3, 2021 09:30 AM - 10:20 AM Geological and Biological processes Reading: Origin and Evolution of Earth, Question 8, pp. 84-94 Note Taking Group 2 Fossil of the Day: Dunkleosteus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkleosteus https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=34328 https://www.cmnh.org/dunk February 5, 2021 09:30 AM - 10:20 AM Early Paleozoic earth history Reading: Paleozoic (Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian) Note Taking Group 1 Fossil of the Day: Uintatherium https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uintatherium https://www.paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=40606 February 8, 2021 09:30 AM - 10:20 AM Late Paleozoic Earth History Reading: Paleozoic ( Carboniferous, Permian) Note Taking Group 3 Fossil of the Day: Tiktaalik https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiktaalik https://www.paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=77132 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvDQCa7rleI February 10, 2021 09:30 AM - 10:20 AM Evolution Reading: http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/0_0_0/evo_02 https://mymasonportal.gmu.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContentEditable.jsp?content_id=_11963713_1&course_id=_413001_1&mode=reset Page 5 of 12 Syllabus – 202110.12095 GEOL-134-001 (Spring 2021) 1/13/21, 12:01 PM Note Taking Group 2 Fossil of the Day: Mesosaurus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesosaurus https://www.paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=36324 February 12, 2021 09:30 AM - 10:20 AM Colonial Life Reading: Cowen, Chapters 4 & 5 Note